On The Road... Taiwan: My Coastal Tour... Part 2!

There was no time to waste, I still had some of Keelung City to discover and then it would be back to Taipei City for some foodie delights at a different night market. I was unbothered by the weather, the rain persisted and there was no sign of it dissipating! Heping Island GeoPark, who? No, I didn't know her! A future cruise destination for Taipei? Yes, Taiwan schooled me further!

It was like the sky was falling, the rain pelted down and those furious looking clouds looked darker than any depression I had witnessed before! Dark, right? Yes! Driving through Keelung City would be something for me to mention later on. My car was on the way to Keelung's 'Heping Island GeoPark' for the next part of my 'Coastal Tour'. Crossing the 'Heping Bridge' allowed us to leave Keelung City for a brief period of time. Boasted a strategic coastal location on Taiwan's northeast shores, the Spanish built a fortification during the 16th century. Now, I had planned to see 'Fort Domingo' in Taipei's Tamsui District but that never actually happened. I followed Anita because she knew the way, I really stood in disbelief as to how the weather could get even worse? That was a question! I kept the faith because that was my one and only visit to Keelung's own Heping Island. Taiwan took me to the right place but the weather was a disgrace! Aside from Spanish history, what else would 'Heping Island' serve? I wanted to see those rock formations!  

I felt like Elsa going 'Into The Unknown' as those waves crashed against those 'mushroom rock' formations! Mushroom rocks? Yes, I was able to capture the strangest looking rock formations I had ever seen in my whole life! Yes, they were so strange looking! So, the 'this is how its supposed to look like' photo was shown to me and I was impressed but the weather had not served me the same opportunity! Making the best of those inclement conditions, I made it my mission to try and appreciate that moment, the rocks looked 'different' to say the very least! Now, on a sunshine or even 'dry' day, I could imagine that oceanside park to look very different. If I was able to capture at least a clear view during such violent rain then I should feel so lucky. We passed a local offering shrine, now that should've been to keep the weather right but apparently it was to remember a group of people? Don't quote me on that because the rain had my brain feeling soggy! I wanted nothing more to be back in the sanctuary of the car, move on! 

Passing through '基隆市/Keelung City' we did, that was before we visited '和平島地質公園/Heping Island GeoPark'. I was told that this city within a city was being fashioned as Taipei's cruise-liner hub with a direct road to Taipei's city centre, it posed as a lucrative opportunity to attract more tourists to the area. I was able to get out of the car on the way back from the 'GeoPark' to take some photos of the small harbour away from the cranes of the commercial and industrial dock area. I loved stepping out of the car because I was able to say that I had set foot in another part of Taiwan even if it was for a matter of moments, small victories! I loved the colourful mix of buildings, it was giving something of a 'Balamory' situation and I wasn't mad about that! Now, the night market was supposed to be around the same area? Yes, that was correct but due to yet more bad weather, my guide suggested we head back to Taipei to an alternative market. I didn't see anything bad about that diversion, not at all! A fishing relic site?

Those Japanese really played with Taiwan's time because on the way to 'Heping Island', another former sign of their colonial muscle was pointed out to me. Really? Now, I might be mistaken but after some key research since my trip, I have tried my best to trace those ruins back to Keelung's '阿根納造船廠遺址/Agenna Shipyard Relics'. Those ruins passed me by for maybe a few moments but after some digging I unearthed a certain 'Japanese Fishing Shipyard' that processed their 'catch of the day' into the many former buildings before they were then packed on to a train connecting to the plant. Don't come for me if I am wrong, but I further read that this former colonial relic might well be in the works for a restoration project to create another 'tourist' point of interest for Keelung? I don't have a reference point handy for that reading but in that moment it was worthwhile to see something new coming from something connected to Taiwan's Japanese rule. With that said, it was time for me to head back to the city, I was hungry! 

My 'After Hours' experience neared as my tour van arrived on a bustling Taipei city street, I was informed that it was a cool place to walk around for a little bit because the food market hadn't opened yet. I remember walking into a small temple with a shrine, people were offering up their prayers and fruits to the gods, that temple was for people who wanted to get married and have children. For me, that temple experience was brief for me to have a look inside at the interior because I do not want to get married nor ever have children but each to their very own. Funnily enough, that temple shared the same name as the one in Jiufen had done, that was a handy reference and something to remember. That street was a buzz with market stalls of a handicraft choice, I appreciated those offerings but didn't feel the need to purchase anything. I later looked on a map to see that my hotel wasn't very far away from this location and was very nearby the rearranged night market. I was looking forward to that little unknown walk, you know I loved it! 

Those dusk settings were kicking in as myself and Anita walked along the first section of 'Dihua Street'. The Japanese style red brick buildings housed a never-ending supply of goods, ranging from Chinese medicine to fancy coffeeshops. I really caught a vibe of Hong Kong's Sheung Wan! The east meet west vibe found me and I loved it, their was a distinctly Taiwanese feeling about those streets, the shops sold everything you could have wanted! I used this time to soak up all of the culture because it was a very unexpected addition to my day tour! I felt really privileged to be paired with that part of Taipei because it did not feel touristic at all. The window shopping had me spending those culture coins, I was rich with memories not commodity items. I was able to see some preserved and modernised Japanese style storehouses, they were long and served as a multi-purpose place for business and home life. With that chapter of the day tour closed, it was time for me to enjoy some well earned food, I needed to eat! Where was the night market again?

I wanted a good bit of Taiwanese sausage! You can interpretate that however you want because that Asian island nation is known for a certain meaty treat, I can't beat them because they are so delicious! You really need to find Jesus if you think that I'm talking about something else! It was early on, most of the storefronts had not yet opened and the food wagons were prepping for the night ahead of them. I found myself having a foodie reunion with a certain Fujian style oyster omelette! How that Taiwan Strait stands as a small point between China's Fujian with Taiwan because those food links are tight! That oyster omelette took me back to China's Quanzhou with every bite, I knew full well that I wasn't in the Mainland at that moment! With a little bit of food in my system, I knew that I could end that food market experience with a jumbo double fried Taiwan sausage! Boy, that supersize length piece of Taiwanese meat tasted divine! It was great to be at a night market because I don't care for them these days, things taste better overseas! Yes!

Half fuelled for the night ahead, I requested that I needed to return to my hotel because a big night lay ahead of me! I had enjoyed my 'Asia Highlights' tour from Taipei, from those '13 Levels' to the waters of the 'Golden Waterfall', I learned more about the Japanese occupation of Taiwan. The 'Golden' elements at the top of that mountain-like scene taught me further that people in Taiwan are considered to have the final say, they rebuked that cableway boldly! Jiufen was cute, those temple wishes have had me in a 'grounded' state of mind with what was said to me! I loved my tea house experience, claiming that view overlooking those lush settings was a pure treat! The rain tried to ruin my plans, I really needed to kick that typhoon in the chest! I was spent after my day out, I really needed to ensure I had my disco nap because Taipei needed to serve an almighty program during the twilight. I was done with the day, I was done with it! Where will 'On The Road...' see me take my next tour? Baby, I'm feeling something in the Philippines! Yes!

A Sausage Party?

Desperately Seeking Adventure